MORE EMAIL SCAMS TARGETING VETERANS -- Phony web sites

and 1-900 phone numbers go after vets' money

and personal information.

All information on VA data theft on this page...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/va%20data%20theft%20news.htm 

The scammers are coming out of the woodwork looking for veterans' money and personal information.

A few days ago I posted a story about a phone scam that has veterans call a toll-free 1-800 number that then directs the caller to a 1-900 number that costs nearly $10 a minute.  Don't do this!

Remember, the VA will not contact you by phone and they won't email you to offer a service or seek personal information.

And, when it comes to emails, NEVER click on a hyperlink.  The hyperlink might look like it's taking you to a government site, but it could be "spoofed" and you end up at a phony site that wants your personal information.

Here's an example I've made for you.

The following hyperlink looks like a valid government site.  So, go ahead and click it.......

                www.firstgov.gov

See what I mean?  Never click a hyperlink in an email that is offering something from the VA.  It will be a phony link.

Story here... http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,
13319,108099,00.html?ESRC=eb.nl

Story below:

---------------

E-mail Scam Targets Veterans

Military.com

We've been alerted to a fraudulent e-mail scheme where the sender is "spoofing" a firstgov email address, using the subject Money Access Service at fraud@firsgov.com.

These e-mails did not come from FirstGov.gov .

Recipients of this or similar solicitations should know that we never send unsolicited e-mails to the public and we never use a .com email address.

Our job at FirstGov.gov , the U.S. government's official web portal, is to provide official government information and services, not to ask you for personal and financial information.

If you receive an unsolicited e-mail from a firstgov.gov e-mail address requesting personal or financial information, delete it immediately.

www.FirstGov.gov  takes this matter seriously, and we are investigating.

You should always be cautious with unsolicited e-mail messages.

If you receive an unsolicited e-mail, we strongly encourage you not to open any attachments or follow any links.

Opening e-mail attachments from an unknown sender is a risky and dangerous endeavor.

For more information about Phishing scams, and how to protect yourself online we recommend you visit www.OnGuardOnline.gov , where you'll find U.S. government's advice on how to protect yourself against internet fraud.

Anne Atkins
Director of Communications
Department of Veterans Services
804 371-0441

---------------

Larry Scott

email Larry  PGP key on request

(go back to VA Watchdog dot Org Home Page)

 


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